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consentaneus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word consentaneus

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Rhetorica ad Herennium
Ultimate origin
Latin (sentiō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kõː.sɛnˈtaː.ne.ʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kon.senˈtaː.ne.us][1]

Forms

cōnsentāneus (feminine cōnsentānea, neuter cōnsentāneum, adverb cōnsentāneē); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is probably from cōnsentiō “to agree” with the suffix -āneus, like dissentāneus.[2][3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from the Rhetorica ad Herennium.[2] Köbler dates it 86/82 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant fitting, appropriate, consistent with something, as in Cicero's cum aliquā rē cōnsentāneus, cōnsentāneum est was “it is consistent, fitting”.[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant fit, suitable.[6] In Medieval Latin it was a noun, a follower, adherent, an accomplice.[7] British Medieval Latin used it for consistent with, as with the law.[8]

Timeline

  • 86/82 BC – the Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[5][4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Fitting, appropriate, consistent.[2]
  2. cōnsentāneum est It is consistent, fitting.[2]

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A follower; an accomplice.[7]

Word family

  • inconsentaneus

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
Cite this entry

“Consentaneus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/consentaneus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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